This article was originally published in March 2024 and has been updated. Last update: March 17, 2025.

Military spouses seeking a portable, rewarding career may benefit from an ongoing fellowship program designed to give them a leg up in the financial sector.

The FINRA Foundation Military Spouse Fellowship, open through April 15, allows military spouses, retiree spouses, and surviving spouses to earn a free certification as an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC). AFCs assist individuals and families in the process of financial decision-making.

[TAKE ACTION: Urge Your Lawmakers to Support Military Spouse Hiring]

As a military spouse, the fact that the accreditation was national – and thus portable – appealed to me. I was accepted into the program in 2009, completed my classwork, my exams, and my experience hours, and earned my accreditation in 2011. Since then, my career path has taken me to military installations around the world as a personal financial counselor, and to MOAA, where I’ve been able to put my training to work in support of our members and their families.

Whether you are just starting your professional path, rejoining the workforce after raising a family, or considering a pivot from a career in federal service – or you know someone who falls into one of those groups – read more about this opportunity at this link.

[FROM 2023: How Military Spouses Can Earn a Key Financial Credential ... for Free]

Fellowship Background

The FINRA Investor Education Foundation, which provides investors with information and tools to better understand the principles of saving and investing, started the fellowship in 2006 as a partnership with the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education (AFCPE) and the National Military Family Association (NMFA). Since then, the program has awarded scholarships to more than 1,700 military spouses. Participants must be enrolled in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS).

While the program is designed to give back to the military community – nearly every military installation employs at least one accredited financial professional in their family service center –there are many employment opportunities in the civilian sector, too. Banks and credit unions, employment assistance programs, cooperative extension offices, social services, and the justice system are just a few of the institutions that employ financial counselors.

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Military spouses are chronically un- and underemployed. Not only did this fellowship allow me to acquire a credential that was easily transportable, but it also opened new career paths and led to further education and accreditations.

Interested? Register for a free online information session April 7.

Find more career resources for military spouses, including upcoming MOAA webinars and networking opportunities, at MOAA.org/Careers.